Lelant

THE parish of Lelant, Uny-Lelant, Lelant-Euny, or Lanant, is situated in the deanery of Penwith, and in the eastern division of the hundred of Penwith; it is bounded on the north by S. Ives and S. Ives bay; on the east by the estuary of the river Hayle, and S. Erth; on the south by Ludgvan; and on the west by Towednack.

The parish comprises by measurement 3757A. The tithes arc commuted at £459, namely, to the vicar £207, and to the impropriator, William Backwell Tyringham, Esq., £252. Attached to the advowson is an excellent glebe of 11 acres.

Vicars:—Thomas de Lamanvâ vicar in 1393; John Clerk succeeded by exchange September, 1393. James Gentell vicar in 1536; he was also provost of Glasney College. William Polkinghorne, 1722; John Keigwin, 1726; Cornelius Cardew, D. D., vicar in 1782; Uriah Tonkin, admitted October 9, 1832; died January 12, 1869, aged 80; and the present vicar, the Rev. R. F. Tyacke, instituted March 4, 1869; he is also vicar of Towednack, and patron of S. Ives.

The church is dedicated to S. Ewinus; it comprises a chancel, nave, and north and south aisles. The east window is filled with good painted glass; the principal figures are S. Petrus, S. Jacobus, and S. Johannes; below is the following inscription,— In memory of William Praed and William Tyringham Praed, 1848.

Attached to the south wall of the chancel is a brass inscribed,—

In memory of their Grandfather William Praed, Esquire, who died October ixth, Mdcccxxxiii; and of their Uncle William Tyringham Praed, Esquire, who died July viiith mdcccxlvi.

The Chancel Window of this Church was given by William Henry Whinfield, Edward Wrey Whinfield, and Ellen Arabella Whinfield.

The pulpit is inlaid with medallions of fine wood, on which are rude representations in outline of the Crucifixion, S. Andrew, etc.

The north arcade has four ordinary pointed arches of granite; a Norman arch supported on circular, moulded piers; and a heavy pointed arch, with a plain soffit.

The south arcade consists of six ordinary pointed arches of granite, with granite pillars. At the west end of the south aisle is the funeral hatchment of William Praed, Esq., having the Backwell and Tyringham arms on an escutcheon of pretence.

The east window of the aisles are of good stained and ornamented glass. In the north wall are the rood stairs; and attached to the same wall is a well-preserved copy of Charles I’s “letter of thanks.”

The font is octagonal, its sides being ornamented with gothic paneling; it is of recent date, and the material Portland stone. The tower arch has a plain soffit and springs from moulded abaci.

The south porch, in which are remains of a stoup, is buttressed; over the entrance is a niche of elaborate workmanship, now occupied by a sundial. The north door, the jambs and arch of which are of well-sculptured Catacleuse stone, is blocked; there is also a priest’s door.

The tower is of three stages, it is 60 feet in height, buttressed at the angles, and finished with battlements and pinnacles; it contains six bells.

Monuments are inscribed as follows:—

Here Lieth the Bodye of William Praed, of Trevethow, Gentleman, of the adge of five and fiftye yeeres; who was buried the Eight of Maye, anno dm. 1620; having one sonne and three daughters living.

On this tablet are effigies of the parents, one son, and three daughters, with their names attached, namely, William Praed, Prudence, James, Jane, Alice, Mary.

Here Lyeth the Bodye of Stephen Pawley, of this parish, Gentleman, who Dyed the xix Daye of November, ye year of our Lord God, 1635.

If tears the dead agayne to life could calle,
Thou hadst not slept within this earthlye balle.
If holye vertues could a ransome bynn,
Soe soone corruption had not rapt thee in.

But thou wert ripe for God, and God didst crave,
Soe gavst a gladsome welcome to the grave;
Assuringe still that thou with God dost dwell;
Thy end so good, thy life was lead so well.

Fili Dei misere nobis,

Miseris Peccatoribus.

This Marble Stone was placed here in the year of our Lord 1713; In Memory of Hugh Pawley of Gunwin, Gent. who dyed the 17th day of Septembr. Anno 1721; & of Judith his wife, who dyed ye 30th day of October, 1698; by whom were begotten Seaven children, (viz.) Prudence, Hugh, Mary, William, George, Peter, & Judith.

Virtus post funera Vivit;
Vita quasi umbra fugit.

Sacred to the memory of Andrew Hosking, late of Porthcullumb, in the parish of Saint Earth, and Mary his wife.

The said Mary Hosking departed this life the 10 of April, 1779; aged 42. Andrew Hosking departed this life the 29 day of July, 1813; aged 78 years.

J. K. 1780. Mary Kniveton died Decr, 23^rd, 1809; aged 75 years.

In memory of Elizabeth Cundy, the daughter of Jno. & Grace Cundy, who died May 5th, 1799; aged 25 years.

Also Grace Cundy, who died Octr. 6th, 1799; aged 66 years.

And John Cundy, who died May 9th, 1802; aged 66 years.

Tho’ Boreas wind and Neptunes waves
Have toss’d me too and fro;
In spite of both by God’s decree
I harbour here below;
Where now at anchor I doe lie,
With many of our fleet;
I must one day set sail again,
Our Saviour Christ to meet.

In the churchyard is a massive tomb of Portland, attached to which is a marble tablet inscribed as follows:—

Sacred to the memory of William Praed, Esq., of Trevethow, who died there October 9th, 1833; aged 84.

This memorial was erected by his surviving children as a testimony of their affection for the best of fathers.

“The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness.”

A modern granite cross has this inscription;—

Here resteth the body of Louisa, wife of the Revd. U. Tonkin, Vicar of this Parish, who departed this life November i, mdccclv; aged lxviii.

I will make mention of Thy Righteousness only.

In the churchyard is an ancient granite cross, six feet in height, with a boldly sculptured S. Andrew’s cross on each side of the disc. Outside of the western entrance is another ancient cross of the same material, 3 feet 6 inches in height, bearing a Greek cross.

William of Worcester states that S. Uny, brother to S. Herygh, lies buried in the parish church of S. Uny, near the village of Lallant, and that his feast day was kept on the first of February. The feast of Lelant is still held on the nearest Sunday to the first of that month. S. Hya, the patron saint of S. Ives, was sister to S. Uny.

In the charter of Henry III., dated May 6, 1234, ratifying the grant of Robert de Cardinham to Tywardreath Priory, this parish, with the villages of Lelant town and Tredreath, and half an acre of land, is included.— Ecclesiam S. Uny, cum terris decimis et aliis pertinentiis suis et nominatim cum villa que dicitur Lamanta et Tredrait, et dimidiam acram terre in Hendre, quam Thomas presbiter tenuit, solutam et quietam ab omni servitio excepto tantum regali. [trans: The church of St. Uny with its tithes and other lands belonging to it, with the villages named Lelant and Tredreath, and a half acre of land in Hendre, which Thomas the church elder held, fallow and released from any service save that of the king alone. (This and following translated with the help of Dee Ace, with thanks.)] The recognition of this grant by Geoffery Fitz-Robert of Trembethow, in this parish, is interesting:— Omnibus sancti matris ecclesie filiis Gaufridus filius Roberti de Trembedhov salutem in Domino. Noverit universitas vestra me intuitu justicie et pro salute anime mee, et animarum predecessorum meorum recognovisse dimidiam acram terre in Lanantha quam Lucas sacerdos tenuit ecclesie S. Andree de Tiwardrad quam dudum detinuimus in periculo animarum nostrarum. Et quia nullum jus in predicta acre dimidia me habere recognosco, meis omnibus interdico omnino calumpniandi in ea aliquid aut exigendi, Etc. [Trans: To all the sons of the church of the Our Lady, I, Geoffrey, son of Robert of Trembethow, greet you in the Lord’s Name. Your Brotherhood know that I have recognised, out of respect of justice and for the sake of my soul and the souls of my predecessors, that the half acre of land in Lelant, which Lucas, priest of St. Andrew’s church in Tywardreath held, which we have for some time retained putting our souls in danger. And because I recognise I have no right to the aforementioned half acre, I forbid all my entire family from making any false claims upon it or from making any demands on it etc.]

By a deed dated from Horslegh, October, 1272, Bishop Bronescombe appropriated the church of Lelant to the collegiate church of the Holy Cross at Crediton, Devon, in lieu of that of Egloshayle. Lelant is thus noticed in the Valor of Henry VIII.,—

Lanaunt in Exoniensi diocesi, in Com. Cornubie. Valet per ann. de integra decima rectorie ibidem sic dimissa Thome Glynne et aliis ad terminum decem annorum per indenturam termino illo incipiente Jan. I, 21 Henry VIII., 1529, £76. [Trans: Lelant in the diocese of Exeter, in the County of Cornwall. The whole tithe of the church at this place, valid in past years, is renounced by Thomas Glynne and others, until 10 years hence, by agreement; with this term beginning 1 Jan 1529.]

In Bishop Lacy’s register is an agreement, dated September 28, 1433, between the precentor and canons of Crediton as proprietors of S. Ewinus of Lanant, and of the chapel of S. Ye (S. Ives) there of the one part, and Richard Portelond, rector of S. Felicitas (Phillack) and of S. Gothian’s dependent chapel (Gwithian), on the other part. The tithe of fish taken by the parishioners of Lanant and S. Ives, and landed in “Cover Sonde” and “Rayver Sonde” (Conner and Rivier sands) is yielded up to the precentor and canons of Crediton.

“Uny-juxta-Lalant,” writes Norden, “somtyme a hauen towne, and of late decayde by reason of the sande which heath choaked the harbor, and buried muche of the Lande and howses; and manie deuises they vse to preuent the obsorpation of the churche. Here are greate store of tynn and copper mynes.”